The man - boy, maybe, he doesn't look older than 17, - turns around. Unlike the real Alexander, his hair is pure white, his mask red with a pattern of concentric semi-circles on it.
"...Sky?"
He sounds a little surprised. Why are there so many babies here?
"Has he sent you to help me, or simply speak with me?"
"His mind is slowly falling apart. If he can no longer speak to others and be understood... then he is losing his connection to others. His perception of himself as a person."
"His heart is filled with grief and doubt. Things he can no longer resolve himself, and he is in too much pain to simply speak to others. And here those doubts and sorrows take form."
"...You may have the right of it regarding the manner in which you were brought here, but you are not forced to stay. He at least retains enough of himself to let people go if they do not wish to help."
Tsun!!
"As for what you may need to do... Are you familiar with the legend of the phoenix? A common concept across many worlds, it appears. Mayhap it exists in yours as well."
Sorry as an Ascian he can't really. Just explain things from the get-go.
"In our world, the "phoenix" was created as a concept - an idea given form. It was meant to be simply a healing magick in avian guise. But as fate had it, the magick fused with a drifting soul making its journey to the Underworld, where all life returns. It was fearful, confused, burdened with sorrow and regret. With its newfound powers of healing, the soul within the "phoenix" would thrash blindly, destroying itself again and again, reviving itself again and again. The man you may know as "Alexander", one of the greatest mages of his time, was called in to deal with it, for only he possessed enough strength to be able to set the soul to rest."
"Correct. I fear I cannot tell you how to deal with it exactly. If these were matters he could have resolved himself, you would not have been called here."
"'Tis not the solution, no. He grieves because of his inability to save his people during the fall of Amaurot. Painful though it is, would you truly tell him to discard that memory? Send it away?"
"If you were speaking with him face to face, and he asked for your advice - would you not say what you believe to be right? What you believe to be true?"
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"...Sky?"
He sounds a little surprised. Why are there so many babies here?
"Has he sent you to help me, or simply speak with me?"
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[But it's okay, they'll get there with Levity at some point, somewhere.]
To be honest, I have no idea. I wasn't able to understand him very well, but he did point me in this direction.
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"...So he's lost his speech."
He sighs.
"If you've any questions, I shall answer them as best as I am able."
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"..."
"His mind is slowly falling apart. If he can no longer speak to others and be understood... then he is losing his connection to others. His perception of himself as a person."
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"His heart is filled with grief and doubt. Things he can no longer resolve himself, and he is in too much pain to simply speak to others. And here those doubts and sorrows take form."
He turns back to the distant fire.
"And that... is such a one."
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So we will need to deal with the manifestations of his problems.
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"He can no longer deal with them himself."
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[A bit dry. Not really a rejection outright, but this is all troublesome at best and mildly horrifying on an existential level at worst.]
Anyway, you suggested he might have sent me here to help you. What does that involve?
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"...You may have the right of it regarding the manner in which you were brought here, but you are not forced to stay. He at least retains enough of himself to let people go if they do not wish to help."
Tsun!!
"As for what you may need to do... Are you familiar with the legend of the phoenix? A common concept across many worlds, it appears. Mayhap it exists in yours as well."
Sorry as an Ascian he can't really. Just explain things from the get-go.
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Even if it did, our stories could be different, so you might as well explain it.
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"Very well."
"In our world, the "phoenix" was created as a concept - an idea given form. It was meant to be simply a healing magick in avian guise. But as fate had it, the magick fused with a drifting soul making its journey to the Underworld, where all life returns. It was fearful, confused, burdened with sorrow and regret. With its newfound powers of healing, the soul within the "phoenix" would thrash blindly, destroying itself again and again, reviving itself again and again. The man you may know as "Alexander", one of the greatest mages of his time, was called in to deal with it, for only he possessed enough strength to be able to set the soul to rest."
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"Correct. I fear I cannot tell you how to deal with it exactly. If these were matters he could have resolved himself, you would not have been called here."
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"'Tis not the solution, no. He grieves because of his inability to save his people during the fall of Amaurot. Painful though it is, would you truly tell him to discard that memory? Send it away?"
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[Well then.]
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"Letting the soul return to the Underworld, yes. It was not meant to stay in the world of the living."
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Then I guess I'll get going. Do you have any advice?
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Hmmm.
"Do what you believe to be right."
...
...
...
Oh, the temptation is too great, and he is still a piece of Levity.
"And do not eat expired Twinkies."
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[Like just sayin
That's a risk you're running by making other people do your therapy, buddy]
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...
"If you were speaking with him face to face, and he asked for your advice - would you not say what you believe to be right? What you believe to be true?"
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"And if he does not? If he rejects it? Do you believe your words would not have left their mark nevertheless?"
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